Printing-machine.



F. A. PUTNAM 5I C. F. ROBBINS.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-19.1916.

-ms Ivoams PETER: ce., nom-Lima.. wasumcmu, n c4 I. A. PUTNAM A c. F.'II0BBINS.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IIov. 9. IsIIe.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

lnvenors. l Fred A. Punlm Charles I". Robbins.

A1 Tys F. A. PUTNAM & C. F. ROBBINS.

PRINTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 9. I9I6.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I nvenor F red A. Purndm Charles F. Robbins AI Iya Y F. A. PUTNAM & C; F. ROBBINS.

' PRINTING-Mmmm.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.9, 1916- l 1 27 9, 904:. Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

InVenTorS.

Fred A.Punc1m Charles F. Robbins by MMJCM UNITED sTATEs PATENT'oFFToE.

FRED A. PUTNAM, OF MELROSE, AND CHARLES F. ROBBINS, OF ABINGTON, MASSACHU- SETTS, ASSIGN ORS TO LABEM MACHINE COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A

CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

- PRINTING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Sept. 24,1918.

Application filed November 9, 1916. Serial N o. 130,447.

To all fw/wm t magy concern:

Be it known that we, FRED A. PUTNAM,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Melrose, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, and CHARLES F. RoBBINs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Abington, county of Plymouth, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Printing-Machines', of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts. n

This invention relates to printing Ymachines of that type having a plurality' of platens and a plurality of type beds arranged about a' common center and constructed 'so that the platens and type beds may move relative to each other about the common center thereby bringing the platens successively into printing position relative to each type bed, and theobject of the invention is to provide a novel machine of this type in which the platens are arranged in a circle outside of the type beds so that they are easily accessible for placing thereon the material on which the printed impression is to be made, and also to provide a machine of this type having a novel means for movL ing the tvpe beds toward and from the platen, and for giving relative movement to the platens and type beds to bringV the platens and type beds successively into operative position, and otherwise to improve machines of this type, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In order to give an understanding of our invention, we have illustrated in the drawings a selected embodiment thereof which will now be described, after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical sectional view of a device embodying our invention Fig. 2 is a top planrview thereof;

Fig. 3 is a view showing the brake for the platen-supporting member;

Fig. 4 is a' vertical section on the line 4-4, Fig. 1, with the type carrier removed;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5, Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6, Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7--7, Fig. 1; l

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view showing one type carrier separated `from its platen; l

Fig. 9 is a side View of' the actuating mechanism for the pawl carrier; Fig. l0 is a detail of the means for centeringy each type carrier as it moves toward the platen,

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary View showing the pawl for actuating the platen-supporting member,

Fig. Vl2 is `a' section on the line 12-12,

Fig. 11.

As stated above, the printing` machine hereinshown is ofthat. type comprising a plurality of platens and a plurality of type carriers arranged about a center, and means to cause a relative rotary movement between the platens and type carriersl about said f center so that the platens are brought successively into printing position with each type carrier.

In the present embodiment of ourV invention, the platens are mounted upon a rotatable platen-supporting member and are situated outside of the type carriers with their operative faces directed toward ythe center of rotation. The type carriers, on the other hand, are situated withinthe circle of movey ment of the platens and are arranged s0 that the type face outwardly andthe type Vcarriers are constructed to be moved in a radial directlon toward and from the platens.

The platens and type carriers are supported upon a suitable frame or standards indicated generally at l, and this frame has at its upper end a head 2 on which a V'plurality of type carriers are sustained for horizontal radial movementg supported on a rotatable platen-supporting member 3 which is rotatably mounted on the standard 1, said standard being provided with the annular shoulder 4 on which the platen-supporting member rests. Any number of platens and type carriers may be employed, depending upon the character of the printing to be clone. In the presentembodiment of our invention, we. have illustrated four platens and four type carriers. The platen-,supporting member is formed 'with four radially-extending arms 5, on the outer end of each one of which is: secured Va bracket 6 carrying a platen-7 against The platensv are which rests the paper or other material to Vone end by which it may be operated.

Each platen has associated therewith a retaining member 9 which yieldingly holds the paper, cloth or other material to be printedv on against the platen during the printing op eration. Each retaining member 9 is in the form of a forked device pivotally mounted at 10 toi the corresponding arm 5 and provided with a projecting finger 11 Vwhich is acted upon by a spring 12 that yieldingly holds the retaining member against the platen. 1

The type carriers, of which there are four in number, are indicated at 13, 13a, and each type carrier is slidably lmounted in guideways 14 formed on the head 2. These guideways 14 extend radially so that the type carriers 13 move in a radial direction toward and from the platens. The type by which the printing is done may be'v secured to the type carriers 13 in any suitable way. In the present invention we have shown three of the type carriers 13 as constructed to support a form or type block containing fiXed type characters and one of the type carriers constructed to support adjustable type. Eig. 4 shows one of the type carriers designed to support the fixed type. The fiXed type is shown in the form of a type block 15 supported in the frame 1G that in turn is secured to the type carrier 13 by suitable screws 17. A type carrier adapted to support adjustable type is shown at the left in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 5. The adjustable type are illustrated in the forni of ktype disks 18, each carrying on its periphery a plurality of type characters 19, and these disks are rotatably mounted upon a khollow shaft 20 which is sustained in bearings 21 carried by the type carrier 13a. The bearings are mounted for vertical adjustment on the type carrier 13a and are held in adjusted position by the clamping screws 22. For adjusting the type disks, we propose to make the shaft 2O slidable longitudinally through the bearings 21 and to provide said shaft with a lug or projection that is adapted to be entered into notches 24 formed on the interior of the type disks 18. The shaft 2O is provided with a handle 25 at To adjust any particular type disks, the shaft will be shifted longitudinally to bring the lug 23 thereon into a notch 24 in the'particular disk to be adjusted. after which turning movement of the shaft will result in turning the type disk.

kThe type carriers are given their horizontal radial movement toward and from the platen by means of a vertically-movable plunger 26 which reciprocates in the standard 1. This'plunger is operated by a driving shaft 27 carried by the frame 1, said shaftbeing provided with the crank 28 which is connected to the plunger by the connecting rod 29. The connections between the plunger Q6 and each type carrier is a toggle-joint connection of special construction. Each type carrier has a link 30 pivotally connected thereto at 31, and each link is pivotally connected at 32 to two links 33 and rEhe link 34 is pivotally connected at one end to the frame at 35, while the link 33 is pivotally connected at its inner end to a h ead 36 secured to the upper end of the plunger. Wvith this arrangement, the upward movement of the plunger from the position shown in Fig. 1 will act through the vlinks 33 34 and 30 to move each type carrier inwardly toward the center as seen in Fig. V8, while the downward movement of theY plunger into the position shown in F ig. 1 will force the type carriers outwardly into printing position in contact with the platens. This is Vthe position shown in Fig. 1. n

Means arev provided' for inking the type at each reciprocating movement of the type carriers.V For this purpose, we have provided an inking plate 37 pivotally mounted on a bracket 38 which is secured to and eX- tends above each type carrier. The ink is transferred from each inking plate toy the type by means of ink rolls 39 which are carried by swinging arms 40 that are pivotally mounted at 42 to a bracket 41 carried by the base portion or foot of the type carrier. Each arm 40 has a link 44 pivotally connected thereto at 43, said links being in turn pivotally connected to the guideways v14 at 45. As the type carriers move inwardly toward the center, the links 44 will cause the arms 40 to swing downwardly about their pivotal points 42 and thus cause the ink rolls to move down over the type. The ink rolls are guided in their movement by tracks or guides 46 so that they will contact only with the type characters. The ink rolls are yieldingly carried bythe arms 40, as usual in printing machines, and will thus be yieldingly held against the tracks and type plate.

Means are provided for rotating each ink plate intermittently so as to secure an even distribution of the ink, and for this purpose a spring arm 47 is provided for each ink plate, each arm being secured to a liXed support and adapted to engage a ratchet 48 rigid with the ink plate as the type carrier reciprocates.

Means are provided for 'rotating the platen i support 3 intermittently so as to bring each platen successively into printing position with relation to each type carrier, and while any suitable mechanism for thus intermittently rotating the platen support 3 may Vof a ring that encircles the standard 1.. The

block 55 is received within a skeleton member 59 and is provided with the oppositelydisposedl trunnions 58` which Vare pivotally mounted in said member 59. Said member 59 in turn is received within an opening 60 formed in the extension 56 and is provided with the oppositely-disposed trunnions 61 that are journaled in said extension. This makes la universal-joint connection between the end 54 of the lever and the pawl-carrier 57. The pawl-carrier has an actuating pawl 62 pivotally connected thereto at 63, said pawl being adapted to coperate with lugs or projections 64 carried by the platen-supporting member 3.

The pawl 62 has a notch 99 adapted to receive the lugs 64. There are four of Vthese lugs or shoulders 64 situated at 90o apart, and `the operating mechanism for the pawl carrier 57 is such that said pawl carrier will be oscillated through one-quarter revolution, and, therefore, at each oscillation of the pawl carrier, the platen-supporting member'will be rotated through 900. Figs. 1, 7 and 9 show the pawl carrier midway of its return movement. When the pawl carrier has reached the limit of its return movement, the pawl 99 will automatically engage a lug 64, the latter fitting into the notch 99. The platen-supporting member 3 is thus positively locked to the pawlcarrier 57 so that the forward movement of the pawl-carrier will be communicated tothe platen-supporting member 3. When the pawl-carrier has completed its forward movement and has turned the platen-supporting member through 90o into the dotted line position, Fig. 7, and full line position, Fig. 11, the pawl is automatically disengaged from the lug 64 thereby to permit the pawl-carrier to have `its -return movement. This releasing of the pawl 62 is accomplished by means of a pawl-releasing member which is actuated by the crank 49. The pawl has an arm 66 extending therefrom which is provided with a downturned iinger 67, as best seen in Fig. 12. Pivoted to the frame 1 is a rock-shaft 68 having a releasing inger 69 fast thereon which is situated in position to engage the `finger 67 when the pawl-carrier is at the forward limit of its movement.A This rock-shaft 68 has an arm 70 fast thereon which is connected by a link 71 to an arm 72 pivoted at 73 to the frame 1. The crank 49 is formed with a projection 74 which is adapted to engage the arm 72 at each revolution of the crank. The engagement of the finger 74 with the arm 72 will act through the link 71 to rock. the shaft 68 and thereby move the releasing finger 69 outwardly in a radial direction. The parts are so timed that this outward movement of the finger 69 occurs just when the pawl-carrierV has completed its forward movement and when the finger 67 on the pawl is in position to be engaged by the releasing finger 69. This is the position illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12. The movement of the releasing finger intoxthe dotted line position, Fig. 12, will act through the linger 67 to disengagethe pawl from the lug 64. Just as the pawl is thus disengaged, the pawl-carrier begins its re- "turn movement, thus carrying the pawl ,away from the lug 64. The advantage of having a pawl which is positively locked vtothe lugs, as shown, is that the rotative movement of the platen-supporting member is completely controlled by the pawl. This platen-supporting member has considerable weight, and the forward or feeding movement thereof is a relatively-quick one. The momentum of the platen-supporting member would, therefore, tend to cause it to overrun unless its movement were positively controlled. The form of pawl herein illustrated acts not only to feed the platensupporting member forward, but also restrains its movement and brings it positively to rest at the end of the forward movement of the pawl-carrier. The pawl is not disengaged from the lug until after the platen-supporting member has been brought to rest and there is, therefore, no possibility that it can overrun.

We have herein shown a friction brake which acts on the platen-supporting ymember and assists in overcoming the momentum thereof. This brake is in the formV of a brake band 80 which surrounds the head 2 of the frame and which is secured to and rotates with the platen-supporting member. One end of the brake band is shown as fastened to a pin S9 secured-to one of the arms 5 of the platen-supporting member, and other end of said brake-band' is adjustably secured to an adjusting bolt 90 extending from the pin 89. Y

In order that an accurate printed impression may be made, it is essential that the type carriers should be properly alined with the platens when they are moved into the printing position shown in Fio. 1. We have, therefore, provlded a centering device for each type carrier which becomes operative when the type carrier moves forwardly into'itsprinting position to bring' the type Y carrier 1nto perfect alinement. l Each of the arms 5 of the platen-supporting member is provided With a centering projection 75 and each type carrier is provided with a depending arm 76. having a groove 7 7 formed in the underside thereof which is adapted to receive the centering projection 75.. rlhis groove has the flaring mouth 7 8 at its outer end, and When the type carrier moves from its rearward position shown in Fig. 8, to the printing position shown in Fig. l, the lug 7 5 is caused to enter the groove 77, and by this means the type carrier is held firmly in proper printing position during the printing operation. The advantage of utilizing the quick movement of the paiv'l-carrier for giving the platen-supporting member its feeding movement is that such feeding movement will occur during a. relatively small portion of the time interval required for each cycle of operations, thus allowing the platens to remain at rest during considerably more than half of each time interval and for an appreciable length of time both before and after the type-carriers have moved into printing position.

The-machine herein illustrated is especially useful for making a printed impression With a variety of colors. F or instance, one type-carrier may carry the type which is to be printed in one color. Another typecarrier may have the type which is to be printed in another color, and so on, and as each type-carrier is separately inked, the type thereon can be provided with any coloring desired. Hence, with the machine illustrated, it is possible to make a printed impression having four different colors. While the device may be used for various purposes, We find it especially useful in printing labels, such as Would be used on the ends of shoe boxes containing the shoes Which are to be sold in shoe stores. This printing may either be placed on labels which are pasted on the boxes, or may be placed direct-ly on the box end. The construction of the platen 7 and its supporting bracket G is such that a box may be` placed over the platen with the end of the box against the platen, in which case the printed impression will be 'made directly on the box end.

The above reference to the printing of shoe boxes or labels for shoe boxes is only to illustrate one of the many uses to which the machine may be put.

The driving shaft 27 may be operated in any suitable nay. We have herein shown for this purpose a gear 91 thereon which will be connected to any suitable source of poi-ver.

`While VWe haveillustrated herein a Selected embodiment of our invention., ive do not Wish to be limited to the consti-notional featuresI shown.

lVe claim: l.V In a marking machine, the combination with a frame, of a plurality of radially-arranged type carriers thereon, a platen-supporting membre-r rotatably mounted on the frame, a plurality of platens carried thereby, means to rotate the platen-supporting member intermittently to. bring the platens successively into printing position relative to the type carriers, means to move the type carriers radially toward and from the platens, an inking roll for inking each type carrier, a pair of arms pivoted to each1 type carier at the rear end thereof and in which the inking roll therefor is mounted, and a link pivotally connected at one end to each pair of arms at a point above the pivot for said arms, the other endl of said link being pivoted to the frame adjacent the front of the corresponding type carrier whereby the reciprocating movements of the type carriers operate to give movement to the inking rolls.

2. In a marking machine, the combination With a frame, of a plurality of radially-arranged type carriers thereon, a platen-supporting member rotatably mounted on the frame, a plurality of platens carried by said member, means to rotate the platen-supporting member intermittently to bring the platens successively into printing position relative to each type carrier, a plunger reciprocable in adirection at right angles to the plane of rotation of the platen-supporting member, a link pivoted to each type carrier, twov links pivoted t0 each of the lirstnamed links and to the plunger and frame, respectively, an inking roll for each type carrier, and means actuated by the movement of the type carriers toward and from the platen to cause the-inking roll to ink the type.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a plurality of radially-arranged type carriers thereon, a platen-supporting member rotatably mounted on the frame', a plurality of platens carried thereby, means to rotate intermittently the platen-supporting member to bring the various platens successively into operative relation with each type carrier, a plunger reciprocable in a direction at right angles to the plane ofrotation of the platensupporting member, a link pivotally connected to each typecarrier, two other links pivotally connected to each of the firstnamed links and pivotally connected to the plunger and frame, respectively, whereby the reciprocatingmovements of the plunger cause the type carriers to move toward and from the platens, and means to lock the platen-supporting member from movement While the type carriers are in printing position.

4l. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a plurality of radially-arranged type carriers thereon, a platen-supporting member rotatably mounted onthe frame, va plurality of platens carried thereby, means to rotate intermittently the platen-supporting member to bring the various platens successively into operative relation `with each type carrier, a plunger reciprocable in a direction at right angles to the plane'of rotation of the platensupporting member, a link pivotallyconnected to each type carrier, two other links pivotally connected to each of vthe, firstnamedlinks and pivotally connected to the with a frame, of a plurality of radiallyarranged type carriers thereon, a platensupporting member rotatably mounted on thereby and arranged with their operative faces directed towardV the type carriers, means to rotate intermittently the platensupporting member to .bring the platen successively into operative relation with each type carrier, a plunger reciprocable in a direction at right angles to the plane of rotation of the platen-supporting member, a-link pivotally connected to each type carrier, two other links pivotally connected to each of the first-named links and pivoted to the plunger and frame, respectively, whereby reciprocating movements of the plunger cause the type carriers to move toward and from the platens.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination with a frame, of a plurality of radially-arranged type carriers thereon, a platen-supporting member rotatably mounted -on the frame beneath said type carriers, a plurality of platens carried by said member, an oscillatory actuator encircling the frame beneath the platen-supporting member, means to oscillate said actuator, a pawl carried by said actuator, means to cause said pawl to interlock positively with said platensupporting member during the forward movement of the actuator, a pawl-releasing member situated in a position to engage the pawl at the end of the forward movement of the actuator, and means to operate said pawl releaser in timed relation with the movements of the actuator wherebyV the pawl will be released from the platen-supporting member at the end of the forward stroke of the latter. Y

,radially-arranged type carriers thereon, a

platensupporting member rotatably mounted on the frame,y a plurality of platens carried by said member, an oscillatory actuator encircling the frame beneath the platensupporting member, a crank shaft ournaled in thel frame, al lever connection between said crank shaft and actuator whereby the-latter is oscillated vfrom the former, a pawl carried by the actuator, means to cause the pawl to have positive interlocking engagement with the platen-supporting member during the forward movement of the oscillator, and means actuated by the crank shaft at the end of such forward movement to release the pawl'thereby to permit the actuator to be returned to initial position 'without moving the platen-supporting member.

' 8. In a device of the class described, the combi-nation witha frame, of a plurality of radially-*arranged type carriers thereon, A'a platen-supporting member rotatably7 mountedion the frame, a plurality of platens carried thereby, an oscillatoryactuator encircling the frame, a crank shaft journaled in lthe frame, a lever connecting said crank the frame, a plurality of platens carried shaft and oscillatory actuator, a fulcrum for the lever Xed to the frame, said lever having a sliding pivotal connection with the fulcrum whereby the backward movement of the actuator is more rapid than the forward movement, a pawl carried by Vsaid actuator, means to cause said pawl to have positive'interlocking engagement with said platen-supporting member during the forward movement of the actuator, and means actuated by the crank shaft to release the pawl at the end of such forward movement.

9. In a marking machine, the combination with a frame, of a plurality of radially-arranged type carriers thereon, a platen-supporting member rotatably mounted on the frame, a plurality of platens carried by said member, means to rotate the platen-supportmg member intermittently t0 bring the platens successively into printing position relative to each type carrier, meansto move the type carriers radially toward and from the platen, and a locking device to prevent y the platen supporting member from rotativel movement, which lockmg devlce 1s renderedk operative by the type carriers when they are moved into printing position.

10. In a marking machine, the combination with a frame, of a plurality of radiallyarranged type-carriers thereon, a platensupporting member rotatably mounted on the frame, a plurality of platens carried byV said member and situated outside of said type carriers with their operative faces directed toward the center of rotation, means to rotate the platen-supporting member intermittently to bring the Vplatens successlvely lnto printing position relative to each type carrier, means to move the type carrlers radially toward and from the platens, and means carried by the type carriers to lock the platen-supporting member from rotative movement While vsaid type carriers are in printing position.

ll. In -a .marking machine, .the combination with a lrame,of a plurality of radiallyarranged type-carriers thereon, a platensuppor-ting member rotatably mounted on the frame, a plurality of platens carried by said member and vsituated outside of the type carriers, means to rotate the platen-supporting lmember intermittently to bring the various platens successively into printing position relative to each type carrier, means to move the type-carriers radially toward and from the platens, and cooperating projections carried by the platen-supporting memberand type-carriers, respectively, and adapted to be. brought into interlocking engagement when the type-carriers are moved into printing position thereby to lock the platen-supporting member from rotative movement.

'Copies of'fhs patent may be obtained for five cents each, 'by ,addressing the Commissioner uf Patents,Y

l2. In a marking machine, the combination with a iframe, of a plurality of radiallyarranged typecarriers thereon, a. platensupporting member rotatably mounted on the vframe and having a plurality of radially-extending arms, a platen mounted on each arm, means to rotate the platen-supportinv member intermittently to bring the pla-tens successively into printing position relative to each type carrier, means to move the type-carriers toward and from the platen, a centering projection 'carried by each arm of the platen-supporting member, and a grooved blo-ck carried by each type carrier and adapted to be broughtinto interlookin-g,` engagement with one of the centering projections when the type Carrier is moved radially into printing position.

In testimony whereof We have signed our names to this specification FRED A. PUTNAM. CHARLES F. ROBBINS.Y

Washington, D. 

